"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Matthew 25:40

An article in the newspaper this week tells of the combined efforts of city dwellers and office managers to help out what might be thought of as 'the least of these.' It seems during their migration season small birds get thrown off by the office lights that often are on in the wee hours of the night. As cleaners make their systematic movement through a building, polishing and vacuuming the past days' labor away and preparing for the day to come, the lights of these tall buildings burn on.These winged night travelers,doing so probably out of the necessity of safety, find the pattern of flight that is imprinted in their tiny wings confused by the constancy of light.They either fly into the windows or die of exhaustion from circling trying to find their way. To help these small songbirds…..warblers, thrushes and others…who are guided by the stars….corporate folks and those who live in high rise apartments are saying 'lights out.' In the process they are also saving valuable energy and money.Good for the birds, good for the planet.

Over the weekend I opened my dishwasher and was surprised to find a box elder bug casually sitting on the door. Where did it come from? How has it survived the winter? How long do these insects live? Another small fellow traveler in this world. I gently lifted it out of what could have been its tsunami ending and put it on the windowsill. Yesterday I didn't see it but I felt glad somehow that I had remembered that it was a guest in our home.

We travel this world with many smaller, weaker ones…..birds, insects, infants, children,the elderly. We walk through our days surrounded by those wounded by life's tragedies…..the homeless, the hungry, the hurting. We encounter, often without knowing it, those who carry deep grief, unimaginable loss, pain too deep for words.

Today may we have the courage to reach out to the least among us offering what we can. May we know when to offer light and when what is needed is 'lights out'.  In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says this is the way to build the family of God. Sounds like a good plan to me.